News And Notes On The 2014 Draft Class

The 2014 NFL Draft is in the books and next week the rookies will take part in their first camp. Until then, let's start to get to know the newest Eagles. Here are some news and notes about this year's draft class ...

Big-Time ‘Backer: The Eagles' selection of Marcus Smith in the first round (26th overall) marked the highest the team has taken a linebacker since selecting two-time All-Pro and 13-year NFL veteran Jerry Robinson 21st overall in 1979.

Trading Places: The Eagles engineered four draft day trades during the 2014 draft, upping the total to 16 draft day deals since Howie Roseman became general manager in 2010.

Double Take: With the selections of wide receivers Jordan Matthews and Josh Huff, the Eagles took two wideouts in the first three rounds of the draft for the first time since 1990 when the team selected Mike Bellamy (2nd) and Fred Barnett (3rd) with back-to-back picks.

Success On And Off The Field: On the collegiate gridiron, this year’s draft class finished the 2013 season with a collective 67-24 (.736) record and a 41-18 (.695) mark in conference play. Off the field, six of the seven draftees have already graduated or are scheduled to graduate from their respective schools in the spring.

Conference Ties: Three of the Eagles' seven picks in the 2014 draft hailed from the Pac-12 Conference, a conference that has housed seven of the team’s selections in the last two drafts. The Birds have chosen at least one player from the Pac-12 (or Pac-10) Conference in each of the last seven drafts and in 10 of the past 11.

All In The Family: Three of the Eagles draftees aren’t the first members of their families to join the NFL ranks. The team’s second-round draft choice wide receiver Jordan Matthews is a cousin of Hall of Fame receiver Jerry Rice. Fourth-round selection cornerback Jaylen Watkins was welcomed to the NFL two days after his brother Sammy Watkins was taken by the Bills with the fourth overall pick in the draft. Safety Ed Reynolds, one of the team’s two fifth-round picks, is the son of former NFL linebacker Ed Reynolds who played for New England (1983-91) and the New York Giants (1992).

Draft Weekend Trades

Traded a 1st-round draft choice (QB Johnny Manziel) to the Cleveland Browns for a 1st-round draft choice (LB Marcus Smith) and a 3rd-round pick, which was later traded to Houston

Traded RB Bryce Brown and a 7th-round draft selection (T Seantrel Henderson) to the Buffalo Bills for a 7th-round selection (DT Beau Allen) AND either a 4th-round draft pick in 2015 OR a 3rd-round pick in 2016 OR a 4th-round pick in 2016

Even though it wasn't a draft weekend trade, the Eagles sent a 2014 fifth-round pick to the New Orleans Saints in exchange for running back Darren Sproles on March 14. The Saints used that pick on former Florida outside linebacker Ronald Powell.